U.S. patent application number 10/646071 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-24 for graphical merchandise locator.
Invention is credited to Deal, Steven A..
Application Number | 20050044011 10/646071 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34194448 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050044011 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Deal, Steven A. |
February 24, 2005 |
Graphical merchandise locator
Abstract
A system and method for graphically locating merchandise. An
interactive display can present a high level environment displaying
various categories of merchandise in a mapped image. A user can
highlight a portion of the mapped image and navigate to a lower
level environment displaying a subset of categories associated with
the highlighted portion in another mapped image. The user can
continue to navigate through increasingly detailed environments
until a desired product is located. In one embodiment, a computer
system associated with the interactive display identifies a store
location where the desired product or goods similar to the desired
product may be found. In another embodiment, the computer system
allows the user to locate a plurality of desired items and provides
the user with a store map locating all of the desired items and
illustrating a path from the interactive display to the desired
items.
Inventors: |
Deal, Steven A.; (Spring
Valley, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET
FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
34194448 |
Appl. No.: |
10/646071 |
Filed: |
August 22, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0603 20130101;
G06Q 30/0639 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/027 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A merchandise locating system, the system comprising: a display
configured to present a graphical mapped image of a merchandise
environment; an input module configured to accept a user input and
a desired merchandise selection; and a user accessible computer
coupled to the display and the input module, and configured to
determine a portion of the graphical mapped image corresponding to
the user input and to control the display to present a lower level
graphical image corresponding to the portion of the graphical
mapped image, the user accessible computer further configured to
determine a location in a store of an item corresponding to the
desired merchandise selection.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: an output module
coupled to the user accessible computer, and configured to provide
an output identifying the location in the store of the desired
item.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user accessible computer is
further configured to generate a map identifying the location in
the store of the item, and wherein the display presents an image of
the map to the user.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user accessible computer is
further configured to generate a map identifying the location in
the store of the item, and wherein the output module outputs a
hardcopy of the map.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a network coupled to
the user accessible computer; a database; and a back-end computer
coupled to the network and the database, and configured to receive
an identity of the portion of the graphical mapped image from the
user accessible computer and retrieve from the database the lower
level graphical image, the back-end computer communicating the
lower level graphical image to the user accessible computer using
the network.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a device
selected from the group consisting of a monitor, a CRT, an LCD, a
touch panel, and a projection screen.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the input module comprises a
device selected from the group consisting of a keyboard, a mouse, a
touch pad, a joystick, a track ball, a pointer, and a pen.
8. A merchandise locating system, the system comprising: means for
displaying a graphical mapped image of a merchandise environment;
means for inputting a user input and a desired merchandise
selection; a user accessible computer coupled to the display and
the input module, and configured to determine a portion of the
graphical mapped image corresponding to the user input and control
the display to present a lower level graphical image corresponding
to the portion of the graphical mapped image, the user accessible
computer further configured to create a map identifying a location
in a store of an item corresponding to the desired merchandise
selection; and means for outputting the map.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for outputting the map
comprises the means for displaying the graphical mapped image.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for outputting the map
comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a printer,
a plotter, and an electronic output device.
11. A method for locating merchandise, the method comprising:
displaying a graphical mapped image of a merchandise environment;
receiving a first user input corresponding to a portion of the
graphical mapped image; displaying a lower level graphical mapped
image corresponding to the first user input; receiving a second
user input corresponding to a product mapped in the lower level
graphical mapped image; and creating a map identifying a location
in a store based in part on the second user input.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, prior to displaying
the lower level graphical mapped image, retrieving the lower level
graphical image from a database based in part on the first user
input.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein displaying the graphical mapped
image of a merchandise environment comprises: communicating the
graphical mapped image to a remote display using a network
connection; and displaying the graphical mapped image on the remote
display.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising outputting the
map.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein outputting the map comprises
displaying an image of the map on the display.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein outputting the map comprises
outputting a hardcopy of the map.
17. A method of graphically locating merchandise, the method
comprising: displaying a first graphical mapped image on a display,
the first graphical image chosen from a hierarchy of graphical
mapped images; receiving a first user input corresponding to a
portion of the first graphical image; determining a second
graphical mapped image from the hierarchy of graphical images based
in part on the first user input, the second graphical mapped image
corresponding to a detailed image of the portion of the first
graphical image; receiving a second user input corresponding to a
portion of the second graphical mapped image; and creating a map
locating merchandise in a store based on the second user input.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying an image
of the map.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising outputting a
hardcopy image of the map.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein creating the map locating
merchandise in the store comprises: determining the portion of the
second graphical mapped image corresponding to the second user
input; determining merchandise corresponding to the portion of the
second graphical mapped image; determining an identifier
corresponding to the merchandise; and determining a location of the
merchandise based in part on the identifier.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the identifier comprises a
SKU
22. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor
readable code embodied on the processor readable storage devices,
the processor readable code for programming one or more processors
to perform a method of graphically locating merchandise, the method
comprising: displaying a first graphical mapped image on a display,
the first graphical image chosen from a hierarchy of graphical
mapped images; receiving a first user input corresponding to a
portion of the first graphical image; determining a second
graphical mapped image from the hierarchy of graphical images based
in part on the first user input, the second graphical mapped image
corresponding to a detailed image of the portion of the first
graphical image; receiving a second user input corresponding to a
portion of the second graphical mapped image; and creating a map
locating merchandise in a store based on the second user input.
23. A method of graphically identifying merchandise for purchase,
the method comprising: displaying a first graphical mapped image of
a merchandise environment on a display, the first graphical image
of the merchandise environment chosen from a hierarchy of graphical
mapped images; receiving a first user input corresponding to a
portion of the first graphical image of the merchandise
environment; determining a second graphical mapped image from the
hierarchy of graphical images based in part on the first user
input, the second graphical mapped image corresponding to a
detailed image of the portion of the first graphical image of the
merchandise environment; displaying the second graphical mapped
image; receiving a second user input corresponding to a portion of
the second graphical mapped image; and receiving a request to
purchase an item corresponding with the portion of the second
graphical image.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein displaying the first graphical
mapped image comprises displaying a first merchandise environment
having multiple lower level merchandise environments.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein displaying the second graphical
mapped image comprises displaying a second merchandise environment
corresponding to a drill down from a first merchandise
environment.
26. A method of graphically identifying merchandise for purchase,
the method comprising: displaying a residential lot image
configured as one or more lower level merchandise environments;
receiving a first user input corresponding to a portion of the
residential lot image; determining a graphical mapped image from
the one or more lower level merchandise environments based in part
on the first user input; displaying the graphical mapped image
having one or more items of merchandise displayed in the graphical
mapped image; and receiving a request to purchase an item selected
from the one or more items of merchandise displayed in the
graphical mapped image.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the one or more lower level
merchandise environments are selected from the group comprising a
kitchen, a bathroom, a living room, and a bedroom.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to the field of merchandise displays.
More particularly, the invention relates to a graphical merchandise
locator.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Among the most common shopper frustrations in many of
today's large stores is the effort it takes to find the desired
merchandise. This often involves hunting down a store employee,
which in itself can be a fruitless challenge. Some retailers have
attempted to solve this problem with kiosks for shoppers to use.
Retailer provided kiosks have not proven very effective and have
not been rolled out to a significant number of stores. The primary
shortcoming of these has been the rather unfriendly interface
between the machine and the shopper. In virtually all known
merchandise finder kiosks, the shopper is prompted to enter the
descriptive name of the desired item and then to pick from a list
of specific items falling within the scope of that, or a similar
name. There are a few problems with this approach. There is often
more than one term that describes the same product and it is
difficult to capture all possible names or terms that shoppers
might enter. Some shoppers refer to some products by trade names.
Referring to items by their trade names further complicates the
construction of such an interface.
[0005] In the case of some products, most people don't know the
name of the product. This can be especially true in home center
environments where the shopper may not be intimately familiar with
the names of the desired item. For example, the "grill" that serves
as the air outlet in a typical home forced air system is properly
called a "register", but few shoppers would know this.
Additionally, a surprisingly large percentage of the population has
poor spelling skills. Further aggravating the ability of a
merchandise locator to identify a desired product is that English
is not a first language for a significant percentage of the
population.
[0006] In short, these challenges, and the inherent dullness of the
spell and list method, have failed to attract a significant number
of shoppers to use merchandise kiosks, even though finding
merchandise persists as a problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A system and method are disclosed for graphically locating
merchandise. An interactive display can present a high level
environment displaying various categories of merchandise in a
mapped image. A user can highlight a portion of the mapped image
and navigate to a lower level environment displaying a subset of
categories associated with the highlighted portion in another
mapped image. The user can continue to navigate through
increasingly detailed environments until a desired product is
located. Thus, the user can drill down through increasingly
detailed images to locate a desired item.
[0008] In one embodiment, a computer system associated with the
interactive display identifies a store location where the desired
product or goods similar to the desired product may be found. In
another embodiment, the computer system allows the user to locate a
plurality of desired items and provides the user with a store map
locating all of the desired items and illustrating a path from the
interactive display to the desired items.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The above-described aspects and other aspects, features and
advantages of the invention will be apparent upon review of the
following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. In
the drawings, like reference characters identify identical or
functionally equivalent elements.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a computer system
configured according to one aspect of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a functional representation of an interactive
display.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a functional representation of a top level
display.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a functional representation of a lower level
display.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a functional representation of a lower level
display.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a merchandise location method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0016] A merchandise locator system and method can be embodied in a
computer system coupled to an interactive display. The merchandise
items are grouped in categories that are graphically depicted at
various levels in a hierarchical merchandise locator. A user can
begin searching for a desired item at a high level and drill down
through the hierarchical categories until the desired item is
located.
[0017] The interactive display can initially show a high level view
of an environment in which available products are used. The high
level view is typically graphical and does not rely on text. The
high level view can illustrate general groupings of categories of
merchandise. The high level view may include a mapped image that
relates a portion of the display to another lower level view of
available products.
[0018] A user can operate the interactive display to select a
category in the high level view. A user selection navigates the
user to a lower level view in which sub-categories of available
products are identified and displayed. The user can continue to
navigate through varying levels of mapped images to locate a
desired product without having to enter any text or respond to any
displayed text. The user may then prompt the computer system to
produce additional information relating to the desired product.
[0019] The additional information can include product
specifications as well as information regarding the location of the
product within a store. If the user navigates and selects multiple
items, the computer system can provide a map of the store and
locations of each of the items in the store. Additionally, the
computer system may provide a path leading the user from the
interactive display to each of the selected items.
[0020] For example, in big box retailers, such as home improvement
centers, a vast array of merchandise is typically available. A
merchandise locator kiosk may be provided in such a store to
facilitate location of desired items. An interactive display in the
kiosk may initially display an image of a residence, showing a
house, driveway, yard, deck, pool, and other typical residential
items. The images are typically graphical in nature and are such
that a typical user can identify the images without requiring text
or an associated description. The image may be a mapped image and
each of the items depicted in the image may be a link to a lower
level grouping of merchandise. For example, the image of the house
may be associated with sub-categories of merchandise associated
with a house. The image of the pool may be associated with
sub-categories of merchandise associated with a pool.
[0021] A user may, for example, select the image of the house. In
one embodiment, a user can select an item by pointing to the item
and clicking a button on a mouse. In another embodiment, the user
can select an item by touching a mapped area on a touch screen. In
still another embodiment, the user can select an item by initially
highlighting the item and then confirming it, such as by
highlighting an image on a display and pressing a mouse button. The
interactive display may then present a cut away image of a house
showing, for example, typical rooms within a house as well as
typical structure associated with a house.
[0022] The rooms can include, for example, a living room, kitchen,
bedrooms, bathrooms and service area. The structure can include,
for example, a roof, frame, heating and air conditioning,
electrical, plumbing, and other structural items. The display may
be a mapped image that navigates the user to an even lower level of
detail.
[0023] Thus, a user that selects the portion of the display mapped
to the kitchen may navigate to another image that displays details
in a typical kitchen. The image represents a lower level of
categorization, representing, in this example, a kitchen. A kitchen
image, and thus category, may include cabinets, appliances, sinks,
faucets, counter tops, and other kitchen items. Again, the kitchen
image may be a mapped image that allows the user to navigate and
select items within the image.
[0024] A user may then select one of the items in the image. The
system may continually display increasingly detailed views of the
selected image until no further navigation images are available.
Alternatively, a user may indicate that an image at a particular
level of categorization represents the desired image. For example,
if a user selects a faucet in the kitchen image, the interactive
display may display a more detailed image of a faucet. The more
detailed view may include, for example, handles, valves, washers,
aerators, seats, or other faucet parts. Additionally, the
interactive display may provide a view that indicates, when
selected, that the desired item is the faucet and not the parts of
the faucet.
[0025] Once the user identifies the desired item, the system
associated with the interactive display may provide a map
identifying the location of the desired item within the store. In
one embodiment, the system may provide the user with a map showing
a path through the store leading from the interactive display to
the desired item. In another embodiment where the user has selected
multiple items, the system may provide the user with a map showing
a path through the store leading from the interactive display to a
first desired item and then from the first desired item to other
desired items in the store. In another embodiment, the user can
identify and purchase merchandise using the navigation system.
[0026] If the user requests a map for several items of merchandise,
the system may provide a map that shows a path to take to pick up
each of the items. For example, the system can provide a map that
shows the shortest distance through the store leading to each of
the items. Alternatively, the system may provide a map showing a
logical path for retrieving the merchandise. For example, if the
user selects the merchandise to build a deck, the system can map a
path that takes the user to the hardware, paint and such prior to
directing the user to the lumber. In this manner, the system
provides a logical path because, even though the lumber may be the
closest merchandise to the user, it is very inconvenient for a
customer to physically navigate the store with a load of lumber.
Thus, the system can provide a map based on logical ranking of the
selected items.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a system 100 that
can be configured to provide graphical merchandise location. The
system 100 includes a user accessible computer 110 coupled to a
display 120, input module 132, and output module 134. The user
accessible computer 110 includes a processor 112 coupled to a
memory 114 and a network interface card 116.
[0028] The network interface card 116 couples the user accessible
computer 116 to a network 140, which may be a Wide Area Network
(WAN), Local Area Network (LAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN),
wireless network such as an IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN, and the like
or some other means for interfacing multiple computers.
[0029] A back-end computer 150 is also connected to the network 140
and is typically placed in a location that is inaccessible to most
users. The back-end computer 150 typically includes a processor 152
and memory 154. The back-end computer 150 can also connect to the
network using a network interface card 156. The back-end computer
150 can also be coupled to a database 160 that can include, for
example, the Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) for each of the merchandise
items locatable using the system 100. In one embodiment, the
database can be organized using a standard retail-oriented database
model known as an ARTS model. In another embodiment, other item
identification is used. For example, a manufacturer's part number
may be used to identify an item of merchandise, a model number,
part number, proprietary numbering system, and the like or some
other means for identifying the merchandise can be stored in the
database and used to identify the merchandise.
[0030] Although only one user accessible computer 110 is shown in
the system 100, one or more user accessible computers 110 can be
connected to the same network 140. When multiple user accessible
computers 110 are used, each user accessible computer 110 can be
placed in a separate physical location in a business or one or more
user accessible computers 110 can be co-located in a central
location.
[0031] The user accessible computer 110 along with the associated
display 120 and input and output modules 132 and 134 can be
implemented in a single kiosk or other cabinet. Typically, only
portions of the display 120, the input module 132 and the output
module 134 are exposed to the user.
[0032] In another embodiment, the user accessible computer 110 is a
user's home computer and the network 140 is the Internet. Thus, the
user can use a personal computer to identify and select merchandise
available from a store and find the location of the identified
merchandise in the store prior to visiting the store.
[0033] In still another embodiment, a user can access the user
accessible computer 110 to identify and select merchandise for
purchase. A user may not be interested in locating an item of
merchandise within a store. However, the user may be interested in
identifying and purchasing merchandise and can use the system 100
to facilitate identifying and purchasing the merchandise. The user
accessible computer 110 can be a terminal that allows the user to
select and purchase special order items that are typically not
stocked within the store. Graphically identifying and purchasing
merchandise is particularly advantageous where the user accessible
computer 110 is a user's home computer and the network 140 is the
Internet. In one such embodiment, a user can remotely identify and
purchase items from a retailer using a graphical navigation
technique.
[0034] A user seeking to locate a particular item within a business
can operate the user accessible computer 110 via the display and
input module 132 to find the item. The user accessible computer 110
displays a graphical representation of merchandise categories on
the display 120. The graphical representation can be a view of an
environment in which available goods may typically be found. The
processor 112 may initially control the display 120 to show a high
level graphical representation. Typically, the graphical
representation is relatively devoid of text.
[0035] The user can then operate the input module 132 to highlight
and select an item on the display 120. The user selection is
received by the processor 112 and relayed to the back-end computer
150 using the network 140. The back-end computer 150 can identify
the current level of categorization shown on the display 120 and
can access the database 160 to identify lower levels of
categorization corresponding to the user input. That is, the user
input typically corresponds to a request for a lower level, or more
detailed categorization of merchandise. The lower level of
categorization can be another graphical representation.
[0036] The back-end computer 150 can retrieve the lower level
graphical representation from a database 160 and transmit the
updated graphical representation to the user accessible computer
110, which then presents the image on the display 120. By
navigating through successively more detailed graphical
representations, the user can drill down through a hierarchy of
graphical categories to identify and locate a desired item.
[0037] Alternatively, the user accessible computer 110 may
periodically access, or be provided, data and information from the
back end computer 150 and database 160. Then, the user accessible
computer 110 can perform the majority of the user interface,
database access, and control functions that are described above.
Thus, in one embodiment, the user accessible computer 110 and the
back end computer 150 can be the same computer. In other
embodiments, the various tasks performed by the user accessible
computer 110 and the back end computer 150 can be distributed
across additional computers. The allocation of tasks to computers
is not a limitation and many different computer configurations are
possible.
[0038] Once the desired item is located, the user can instruct the
user accessible computer 110 to provide further information
regarding the desired item. For example, the user can request a map
or location of the desired item within the store. The user
accessible computer 110 can then produce a store map showing the
location of the desired item. The user accessible computer 110 can
provide the user a copy of the map via the output module 134.
Alternatively, the user can purchase the item by entering, for
example, a credit card number.
[0039] The user accessible computer 110 can be configured to
perform minimal operations to enable a simple, low cost, processor
112 and memory 114 configuration to be used within the user
accessible computer 110. The memory 114 can include processor
readable instructions that direct the processor to perform a series
of functional steps. For example, the memory 110 can include
processor readable instructions that direct the processor 112 to
control the display 120 and output module 134 and to receive user
input from the input module 132.
[0040] The display 120 can be any type of display, such as, a
monitor, a CRT, an LCD, a touch panel, a projection screen, and the
like, or some other means for display. The processor 112 can
control the display 120 to present graphical representations of
categories that the user can navigate through to locate a desired
item.
[0041] The user can control the input module 132 to select a
desired item or category shown on the display 120. The input module
132 can be a keyboard, mouse, touch pad, joystick, track ball,
pointer, pen, optical device, bar code laser reader, and the like,
or a combination of input devices, or some other means for
inputting. The input module 132 need not be limited to accepting
manual user input, but can be configured to accept electronic
input. For example, the input module 132 can also be a data port,
an IR receiver, a disk drive, an optical receiver, a radio
receiver, or some other electronic input or combination of input
devices. The input module 132 can be separate from the display 120
or can be integrated with the display 120, such as when the display
120 is a touch screen.
[0042] The output module 134 can be a printer, plotter, electronic
output device, and the like, or some other means for output that
can provide the desired user information. In one embodiment, the
output module 132 is a printer implemented in a kiosk that is
controlled by the processor 112 to output a map indicating the
location of a desired item. The output module 134 can be configured
such that only the map or electronic output is available to the
user. For example, paper maps printed by an output module 134 may
be presented to the user through a slot or window in a kiosk.
[0043] FIG. 2 is a functional representation of one embodiment of a
display output 200. Various other display outputs can be used. The
display output 200 can be provided to the user, for example, on the
display 120 of FIG. 1. The display output 200 can include a main
display area 210, a detail area 220, and a toolbar area 230.
[0044] A main display area 210 can be used to display the
interactive graphical image. The interactive graphical image can be
an image of a typical environment in which available merchandise
may be used. For example, a top level interactive graphical image
may be an overhead view of a typical residential lot.
[0045] The interactive graphical image can be a mapped image
whereby particular portions of the graphical image are mapped to an
input function. Thus, the interactive graphical image can be mapped
to categorize available merchandise into the images shown in the
environment. For example, in the graphical image of a residential
lot, a home and landscape area may be shown. The image of the home
may be a mapped image that, when selected, navigates, or drills
down, to a lower level. The lower level can be a more detailed
image that shows an environment where home-related merchandise can
be found. Similarly, the image of the landscape area can be an
image that maps to a function that, when selected, drills down to a
more detailed image that shows an environment where landscape
related merchandise can be found. Thus, the mapped images in the
interactive display can correspond to categories of
merchandise.
[0046] The detail area 220 can include general information or
information that is associated with the particular image shown in
the main display area 210. In one embodiment, the detail area 220
provides additional information relating to one or more items in
the main display area 210. For example, the detail area 220 can
provide listings of models or brands associated with an item that a
user highlights in the main display area 210. Additionally, the
detail area can include links to related merchandise or can show or
link to application information, such as "how to" guides and other
instructional information.
[0047] In another embodiment, the detail area 220 provides brand
name advertising for merchandise or services associated with the
image displayed on the main display area 210. For example, if the
main display area 210 shows plumbing fixtures, the detail area 220
can include advertisements for particular brands of fixtures. The
detail area 220 can also include information or advertisements
relating to installation services.
[0048] The toolbar area 230 can include icons that relate to
navigation and modification of the displayed image. Because the
displayed images are typically organized in increasingly detailed
views, the top level image typically represents the most general
image. A return to top level icon or button 232 can be included in
the toolbar to allow a user to return to the top level menu without
navigating back through the drill down levels. The return to top
level icon 232 can be particularly advantageous where multiple
users have access to the merchandise locating system. A first user
may abandon the locating system after navigating to a desired
level. A second user that accesses the locating system immediately
after the first user abandons the system may still view the last
image remaining on the display after the first user abandons the
system. However, this image may not correspond to the merchandise
that interests the second user. The second user can easily select
the return to top level icon 232 to quickly return to the typical
starting point without having to navigate through the system.
[0049] A back arrow or icon 234 can be provided in the toolbar to
return the user to the image that was displayed prior to the
current image. The back arrow 234 allows the user to return to a
higher level of categorization from a lower level of
categorization. Other navigation icons can similarly be added to
the toolbar area 230.
[0050] The toolbar area 230 can also include icons or buttons that
perform image modification. For example, the toolbar area 230 can
include a zoom-in icon 236 that instructs the system to increase
the image size. Additionally, the toolbar area 230 can include a
zoom-out icon 238 that instructs the system to decrease the image
size. Of course, other image modification functions can be
associated with other icons included in the toolbar area 230.
[0051] FIG. 3 is a functional representation of a top level image
300 that may be displayed in the main display area 210 of a display
120. The top level image 300 depicts an overhead view of a
residential lot. The top level image 300 can be, for example, the
initial image displayed to a user at a store such as a home
improvement store or a home center. The top level image 300 can
include various items generally associated with merchandise. For
example, the top level image 300 includes a home 310, an air
conditioning unit 314 next to the home 310, a driveway 320 having a
car 324, a garage 330, a patio or deck 340, a pool 350, fencing
360, a lawn or other landscape 370, and the like. Of course the top
level image 300 is not limited to just the items shown in FIG. 3,
nor is the top level image 300 required to have all of the items
shown in FIG. 3. For example, the top level image 300 can also
include a garden shed, a garden, children's play equipment, and
other environments associated with merchandise.
[0052] The top level image 300 can be a mapped image. Thus, an area
of the image associated with the home 310 can link to a lower level
image that details merchandise or environments associated with a
home. Similarly, the portion of the image associated with the pool
350 may link to a different lower level image that details
merchandise or environments associated with a pool.
[0053] Typically, the top level image 300 does not identify part or
model numbers for actual products that may be available in the
store. Instead, the top level image 300 typically provides an image
of an environment, here a residential lot, associated with typical
categories of merchandise available in the store.
[0054] A user selects a portion of the image associated with
merchandise that the user desires to locate. For example, a user
that desires home related merchandise can select the home 310. The
process of selecting a portion of the image can include separate
highlight and selection actions, or can be a single action
including both highlighting and selecting. Additionally, some of
the mapped images on the top level image 300 or any other display
image may require separate highlight and selection actions while
other mapped images require only a single action to select the
item.
[0055] Once the user has selected a mapped image from the display,
the system performs the function associated with the mapped image.
For example, if the user selects the home 310, the system drills
down to a lower level image associated with the home 310.
[0056] FIG. 4 is a functional representation of a first lower level
image 400 associated with the home 310 from the top level image 300
of FIG. 3. The outline of the home in FIG. 4 is not the same as the
outline of the home 310 in FIG. 3. However, in other embodiments
the shapes and outlines of the images in lower level images may
correspond with the shapes and outlines from the upper level
image.
[0057] Additionally, the lower level image of FIG. 4 duplicates
some of the image portions shown in the upper level image. For
example, the first lower level image 400 includes the deck 340 that
is also shown in the top level image 300. In other embodiments, the
lower level images can include zero, one, or multiple images from
the upper level images.
[0058] The first lower level image 400 shows additional typical
environments associated with merchandise. The environments shown in
the first lower level image are typically more detailed than the
environments shown in higher level images. Thus, a portion of the
top level image 300 can be said to drill down to the first lower
level image 400. For example, the first lower level image can
include images of a bedrooms 410a-410c, bathrooms 420a-420b,
kitchen 430, laundry room 440, dining room 450, living room 460,
storage area 470 having a water heater, and front porch 480. The
first lower level image 400 can also be a mapped image and portions
of the image can link to a different display image. One or more of
the image portions may map to the same lower level image. For
example, each of the bedrooms 410a-410c may be a mapped portion of
the image. The bedrooms 410a-410c can, for example, all map to the
same lower level image because the type of merchandise that is
applicable to one bedroom is typically applicable to all bedrooms.
Alternatively, some of the portions of the image can map to the
same lower level image and other portions may uniquely map to other
lower level images.
[0059] A user can select a portion of the first lower level image
400 to drill down to an even more detailed image. For example, the
user may select the kitchen 430. In response to the user's
selection, the system may navigate to, and display the next lower
image corresponding to the kitchen 430.
[0060] FIG. 5 is a functional representation of one embodiment of
the kitchen image 430 that is a lower level image. The system may
drill down to the kitchen image 430 in response to user input
selecting the kitchen 430 in the first lower level image 400 of
FIG. 4. As was the case with the other graphical images, the
kitchen image 430 can be a mapped image in which portions of the
image map to predetermined functions.
[0061] The kitchen image 430 displays the type of merchandise that
can typically be found in a kitchen. The mapped portions of the
kitchen image 430 can include a sink, a faucet 512 that is
positioned near the sink 510, a refrigerator 520, a range 530, and
cabinets 540. Other kitchen items can similarly be displayed in the
image. For example, the kitchen image 430 can display images for a
variety of kitchen appliances, for example, a dishwasher, a
freezer, a microwave oven, a trash compactor, a toaster, and other
kitchen appliances. Additionally, the kitchen image 430 need not be
a perspective image, but can be an overhead image, a wireline
image, a 3D image, or some other representation. The images of the
various kitchen items are shown as replicas of the merchandise.
However, in this image and in the other displayed images, icons or
other graphical representations may be used to represent the items.
For example, in the kitchen image 430, an ice cube may be used to
represent the freezer and a flame may be used to represent the
range. Any graphical representation can be used to identify an
item.
[0062] The user can select a portion of the kitchen image 430. The
system can drill down to an even lower level of detail or can
provide the user with information concerning the selected product.
For example, at the top level image 300, the user may select the
home 310. Because the retail outlet may not sell complete homes,
the system may directly drill down to the lower level image of the
home.
[0063] However, in lower level images, the selected item may be a
product and may also be associated with lower level images that
provide additional graphical detail. For example, the user may
highlight or select the faucet 512 in the kitchen image 430.
Faucets can be items that are sold in the retail outlet.
Additionally, the user may not be interested in the actual faucet,
but instead, may be interested in faucet parts. Because the retail
outlet may also carry faucet parts, the faucet image 512 may also
map to a lower level image that can show, for example, an exploded
image of a typical faucet. An additional icon or button may be
placed in, for example, the detail portion of the display, in order
to allow the system to differentiate the two possible user choices.
A user selection of the icon or button in the detail portion of the
display may indicate that the highlighted or selected image is the
merchandise the user is interested in.
[0064] The user can thus navigate through a series of graphical
images to reach a desired item of merchandise. The user can then
direct the system to provide a map showing the location of the
desired item in the store. In one embodiment, the system displays a
map from the display to the desired item in response to a user
selecting a map icon in the detail portion of the display. In
another embodiment, the user can select a print icon to direct the
system to provide a hardcopy map of showing the location of the
desired item in the store.
[0065] The user can locate a single item prior to mapping the item
or can locate multiple items that can all be identified on a single
map. The map can indicate, for example, the aisle number in the
store where the desired item or items may be found. In another
embodiment, the map can direct the user through the store to the
location of the desired items. For example, a map can display a
floor plan of the store and include a line that traces a path from
the user display to one or more desired items.
[0066] The user may also direct the system to provide information,
such as how-to information or related merchandise information, once
a desired item is highlighted on the display. The user can
similarly request the information be displayed or provided as a
hardcopy.
[0067] Of course the system is not limited to identifying kitchen
merchandise. The system can also be used to locate other types of
merchandise. For example, a user may want to locate an air
conditioning register but may not know the proper term for the
item. However, the user knows that the item is located within the
home and is associated with the air conditioning system.
[0068] The user may use a kiosk having the disclosed system that is
located in a home improvement store. The user may initially start
at a top level menu that displays a home, lawn, car, garage, garden
shed, garden, children's play equipment, and other environments.
Because the user knows the register is located in the home, the
user selects the image of the home.
[0069] The system drills down to a more detailed image of a house.
The system enlarges the image of the home to show the various rooms
of a typical house. The image can also show images of structure
associated with the whole house. Such structure can include the
electrical, plumbing, and heating and air conditioning.
[0070] The user may see the image of an air conditioning duct or an
air conditioning unit. The user can then select the image
associated with the air conditioning portion of the home.
[0071] The system can then drill down to a lower graphical image
that further details a typical air conditioning system. The image
can show, for example, a central air conditioning system as well as
a room air conditioning unit. The user may see that the register is
located at the end of an air conditioning duct.
[0072] The user can then select the register. The system may then
show details of the duct because the duct may not drill down to any
more detailed views. The system can provide, for example, the name
of the item, a listing of specific models the store carries, and
the location of the item within the store.
[0073] Thus, a user can locate a desired item in a store without
knowing the name of the item. The user need only know what
environment the item is associated with and have a general idea as
to the typical look of the item. The user is able to locate an item
in a store by navigating increasingly detailed drill down displays
of merchandise environments.
[0074] The system and method can also be used in other store types.
In some cases, such as supermarkets, special detail would be
provided in the kitchen. Once selected, it might appear as though
one is in a kitchen. Some visual selectable items might include,
for example, a spice rack, bread box, refrigerator, freezer,
pantry, cupboard, etc. There might even be various common
"in-process" foods displayed on a counter, such as representative
vegetable, meat, and dairy products. Various creative means of
displaying items could then be used once the user selects one of
these images. For example, selecting the refrigerator might show
the typical drawers (produce, meat, dairy, etc.) as well as a
creative view representing the other types of items found in a
refrigerator. The images can be as detailed as desired and the
search can quickly be further refined through one or two more drill
downs, if needed.
[0075] General merchandise stores could likewise show clothes
closets, dressers, and other items in master bedrooms, children's
rooms, dens, sewing rooms, etc. to permit locating virtually any
merchandise within three or four drill-down levels. Even the
medicine cabinet in the bathroom could expand to provide a wide
selection of typical medications. Some images might even have brand
names. Branding could apply in nearly all applications and could
provide a revenue source from manufacturers for including the items
in that fashion.
[0076] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a merchandise locating method 600.
The method 600 can be, for example, embodied in one or more
processor readable storage devices of the system shown in FIG. 2.
Thus, the system of FIG. 2 may perform the method 600.
[0077] The system can initially begin at block 602 where the system
retrieves a top level image from memory. The system then proceeds
to block 604 where the image is displayed. As described above, the
image can be a mapped image where one or more portions of the image
correspond to functions performed by the system.
[0078] The system proceeds to block 610 where it receives user
input. The user input can be from an input device such as a touch
screen, a mouse, pointer, keyboard, or other means for inputting.
After receiving the input, the system proceeds to decision block
620.
[0079] In decision block 620, the system analyzes the user input to
determine if the user input relates to a system function that links
to a lower level. That is, the system determines if the user input
is a selection of an image portion that is associated with another
drill down image.
[0080] If the user input requests the drill down image
corresponding to the next lower level, the system proceeds to block
624 where the image associated with the user selection is retrieved
from memory. The system then proceeds back to block 604 to display
the image and await user input.
[0081] Returning to decision block 620, if the system determines
that the user input does not link to a lower level image, the
system proceeds to decision block 630 to determine if the user
input instructs the system to modify the display. The user input
can be, for example, a direction to zoom the display image in or
out.
[0082] If the system determines the user input requests a display
modification, the system proceeds to block 632 where the display
image is modified according to the user input. If instead, the user
input does not request modification of the display image, the
system proceeds from decision block 630 to decision block 640.
[0083] At decision block 640, the system determines if the user
input requests a desired item be saved. In this embodiment, the
method 600 allows the user to navigate to a desired item and save
the desired item in a memory. Then, the user can navigate and
select other desired items and request the system identify the
location of all selected items.
[0084] If the system, in decision block 640, determines the user
input directs the system to save the current item, the system
proceeds to block 642 where the identity of the item is stored in
memory. The system can store, for example, the SKU, part number,
model number, or some other merchandise identifier of the desired
item. The system then proceeds back to block 602 where the top
level image is again displayed. Of course, the system can be
configured to return to some other lower level image.
[0085] If the user input does not correspond to a request to save
the current item, the system proceeds from decision block 640 to
decision block 650 where the system determines if the user command
requests creation of a map.
[0086] If the user input requests the creation of a map, the system
proceeds to block 652. In block 652, the system retrieves the
identity of the current desired item and finds the location of
similar items in the store. For example, if the user selection is
an air conditioning register, the system finds the store location
for registers. The location can be as general as a store aisle or
can be more specific, including the aisle number, shelf, and
general position on the shelf.
[0087] The system then proceeds to block 654 where previously
stored items are retrieved from memory. The system also finds the
positions corresponding to the previously stored items. The system
then proceeds to block 656 where a map is generated identifying the
location of one or more of the items selected by the user. For
example, the map can show a path from the user display to the first
item selected by the user. The map can also show a path that leads
from the first item to subsequent items selected by the user. In
another embodiment, the map can identify the aisles that correspond
to each of the selected items. Other map configurations are
available to help identify the locations of the selected items. The
map can be displayed to the user or can be provided in a hardcopy
format.
[0088] The generation of a map is typically considered the final
function performed by the user. Thus, after creating the map in
block 656, the system proceeds to block 658 where the memory is
cleared of all previously identified user selections. This step
minimizes the possibility that the memory will continue to hold
contents chosen by a first user when a second user seeks to locate
store merchandise.
[0089] After clearing the memory, the system proceeds back to block
602 where the top level image is retrieved in preparation of
another user directed search.
[0090] Returning to block 650, if the system determines that the
user input does not correspond to a request to create a map, the
user input may have actually been created by a system time out.
Such a system time out may occur when the system detects that no
user input has occurred for a predetermined period of time.
Inactivity can be, for example, due to a user abandoning a search
without exiting from a lower level menu or without seeking a
map.
[0091] Thus, the system may have a default response whereby the
system returns to the top level menu in preparation of another
user. The system proceeds from decision block 650 to block 660
where the memory is cleared of user selections. The system then
loops back to block 602 where the top level image is retrieved in
preparation of the next user.
[0092] Thus, an interactive graphical drill-down has been described
for in-store or on-line merchandise shopping in the fashion
described above. A user can identify and locate desired items by
navigating graphical drill down images. The user can identify the
desired item without ever using a text interface. Additionally, the
user can identify an item without knowing the name of the item. The
system can then locate the desired item, and items similar to the
desired item, and create a map showing the location of the
merchandise in the store. Alternatively, the user can graphically
identify merchandise and purchase the merchandise, for example,
using a remote computer.
[0093] The system may be incorporated in a kiosk in a store or can
be accessed by a user having a network connection to the system.
For example, the user can use a personal computer with an Internet
connection to navigate to a system hosted by a retail store. The
user can identify the particular store in which merchandise is to
be located. For example, the user can identify a store location,
such as by address, city, or street. Then, the user can navigate
through the images to select and identify desired merchandise. The
user can then request creation of a map locating the merchandise in
the store. The user can then print the map using a printer and have
the locations of desired goods identified prior to venturing to the
store.
[0094] Electrical connections, couplings, and connections have been
described with respect to various devices or elements. The
connections and couplings may be direct or indirect. A connection
between a first and second device may be a direct connection or may
be an indirect connection. An indirect connection may include
interposed elements that may process the signals from the first
device to the second device.
[0095] Signal or process flows have been described with respect to
various processes, methods, or flowcharts. The flow from one step
or block to the next may be direct or indirect. An indirect
connection may include interposed blocks that may process the
signals from the one block prior to a subsequent block.
Additionally, the arrangement of the blocks or steps shown in the
figures is not necessarily an indication of order. The blocks,
processes, steps, or methods may, in some instances, be re-ordered
without affecting results of the process or methods.
[0096] Those of skill in the art will understand that information
and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different
technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions,
commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may
be referenced throughout the above description may be represented
by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or
particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination
thereof.
[0097] Those of skill will further appreciate that the various
illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps
described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may
be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or
combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability
of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks,
modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in
terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is
implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular
application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.
Skilled persons may implement the described functionality in
varying ways for each particular application, but such
implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a
departure from the scope of the invention.
[0098] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and
circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed
herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose
processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application
specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array
(FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or
transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination
thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A
general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the
alternative, the processor may be any processor, controller,
microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be
implemented as a combination of computing devices, for example, a
combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of
microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a
DSP core, or any other such configuration.
[0099] The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection
with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in
hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a
combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory,
flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers,
hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage
medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to
the processor such the processor can read information from, and
write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the
storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and
the storage medium may reside in an ASIC.
[0100] The above description of the disclosed embodiments is
provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the
invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be
readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic
principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus,
the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments
shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with
the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
* * * * *